|
This is an interesting thread.
First, we're talking about about one "system", but several components. For
historical purposes, the US Army conducted tests on parachutes that had been
packed for up to 20 years and found that there was NO degradation in the
reliability and function of a parachute IF IT HAD BEEN PROPERLY STORED.
This means in clean and dry conditions. If your canopy did not contain any
"mesh" products (which have been a problem in subsequent canopies) it should
function as well as when it was new if properly cared for.
On the other hand, the solid fuel rocket is composed of chemicals that will
degrade with time. I've heard that the BRS rockets will still function
reliably long after they have expired. I do not have any data on other
brands and if anyone does I would like to hear about it.
It appears then that the rocket is the link in the "system" that is most
likely to degrade with time. Given a choice (and assuming I needed it), I would
rather have a system with a questionable rocket than none at all!!
Just my $0.02.
Rick MacCrone
Senior Rigger
Master Parachutist D-19258
PVT 1983330
"Paul J. Lewis" <pjlewis@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:LyS0g.25446$NS6.18086@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi Group
> I've a Chinook wt 11. It was weecked & had a nondeployed 2nd
> chantz Chute on it. It is in grate condition, but was instaled in 1983. So
I
> called sevral
> co that packed chutes. No one would touch it. I even called BSR. Now this
> is what I found out.These chutes
> have a life span of 8 yr for safty. I was told they might be good up to
> twevle yr, but that is pushing it. Repacking
> is done only on the orignal manfucture of the chute. One co. will not
touch
> another chute. I was told that my chute
> had a cnance of less than 50/50 of working & that was only if water nad
not
> leaked in some how. So nevadaflyer
> is right in his post.
> Paul J. Lewis
> "Orval Fairbairn" <orfairbairn@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:orfairbairn-3F56A5.12353017042006@news.west.earthlink.net...
> > In article <1145244968.145075.318170@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
> > nevadaflyer@netzero.net wrote:
> >
> >> Warning, these Second Chantz units are ALL out of date and there is NO
> >> factory support. Buyer beware....Would you trust your life to such a
> >> big unknown? My life is worth purchasing and up-to-date emergency
> >> parachute system. At our school, we "test fire" old rocket systems.
> >> Sometimes (usually the older units are more pronounced) the "result" is
> >> not encouraging.
> >> Save your life-do not buy obsolete life support systems!
> >
> >
> > That raises the questions:
> >
> > How reliable are the others out there?
> > Is a plane chute an asset or a liability?
> > How safe are the rockets as they age?
>
>
|
|
Re: Ballistic Rocket Chute FS
